WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today approved a final authorization for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries from Port Arthur LNG Phase II in Jefferson County, Texas, following the Response to Comments on the 2024 LNG Export Study issued on May 19. This is the first final LNG export approval under President Trump’s leadership and marks another step in restoring regular order to LNG export permitting–reversing the previous administration’s pause and delivering on the President’s pledge to unleash American energy.
“Port Arthur LNG Phase II marks a significant expansion of the first phase already under construction– turning more of the liquid gold beneath our feet into energy security for the American people,” said Secretary Wright. “With President Trump’s leadership, the Energy Department is restoring America’s role as the world’s most reliable energy supplier.”
“U.S. LNG exports continue to gain momentum, and I am glad DOE is able to do its part to answer the call for more reliable and affordable energy, at home and abroad,” said Tala Goudarzi, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.
Port Arthur LNG Phase II, owned by Sempra Energy, is projected to export 1.91 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) once completed. In addition to Port Arthur Phase I—which is currently under construction and expected to begin exporting LNG in 2027—Sempra also operates the Cameron LNG export terminal in Louisiana, which has been exporting LNG since 2019, and is currently constructing the Energia Costa Azul terminal in Mexico, which will begin commercial export operations of U.S.-sourced gas as LNG beginning in 2026.
Today’s action marks the fifth LNG export authorization issued by Secretary Wright, bringing the total volume of exports associated with approvals under President Trump’s leadership to 11.45 Bcf/d.
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